FOOD SERVICE & PROCESSING
CHANNEL

Complex, busy and fast-paced. That's today's food related industry. PIP and its distributor-partners pay very strong attention to this market and its special needs. Together we want to ensure that there is no weak link in safety - to the worker and ultimately to the consumer.

The Expanding Food Industry in the United States

testimonial-food

PROTECTING WORKERS, CONSUMERS AND PRODUCTS

The food industry’s outbreaks of E.coli, Salmonella and other food related ailments have raised the profile of food safety in not only consumers, but also with manufacturers. Ensuring food safety requires a unified systems approach. Food handling GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) along with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) food sanitation practices require effective personal protective equipment.

Quality products, training and clear information is key. That’s were PIP comes in.

Average Incidence Rates for Injuries and Infections in 8 Pork Meatpacking Plants (per 100 workers)

The data below shows an example of the high chance for cut injuries and subsequent infection in the food processing industry. The safety of workers must be considered in addition to preventing contamination of food products they are working with.


From the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health

Dangers Facing Food Service Workers
and their Approximate Claims Per Year

These injuries range in severity, with approximately 1 of out 130 Knife Lacerations and 1 out of 80 Meat Slicer Lacerations resulting in amputations, and 1 out of 40 burn injuries that were third-degree burns.


Based off statistics from 'Top 7 Dangers for Young Workers', WorkSafeBC

Regulations for Food Contact

When working in the food industry, there are three types of potential contact that can be made with food:


Direct Contact: Handling or preparing food
Indirect Contact: Working on or touching something that food will be in direct contact with
Incidental Contact: Rare or incidental touching of food

In any situation, it is important that the protective gloves and sleeves are constructed with materials that comply with federal regulations for food contact in the United States (21 CFR 170-199) or Canada (CFIA).

For Direct Contact, disposable polymer gloves or unsupported, unlined canners are typically used. In situations where cut protection is also needed, compliant seamless knit gloves can be worn as liners underneath gloves that meet the criteria for direct contact, or some premium styles can be used on their own.

With Indirect or Incidental Contact, typically coated seamless knit gloves are worn to provide enhanced grip as needed, as well as protect against injury risks such as cuts, scrapes, and abrasions.


INNOVATION AND CERTIFIED SAFETY

First to market with innovative products that keep you safe and help you to work more productively. Kut-Gard® offers the cut protection workers need while meeting the standards for food safety. Assurance® disposable gloves have been designed with the utmost safety in mind.

Highest Possible Cut Protection for the Food Industry

Highest Possible Cut Protection for the Food Industry

Made in the U.S.A., Kut-Gard® seamless knit gloves are designed to provide the highest possible cut protection for the food industry. Because they comply with both the US and Canadian standards for food contact, Kut-Gard® gloves can be used for operations where direct, indirect, and incidental contact with food may occur. Many styles also incorporate the strength of Dyneema® Diamond Technology, which is 15 times stronger than steel on a weight for weight basis! It's a High Performance Polyethylene fiber made from Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Dyneema® fiber is much thinner and more flexible than traditional materials, such as leather and cotton, while offering higher protection.


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Ambi-dex®

Disposable Gloves

Ambi-dex® disposable gloves are used to avoid cross contamination between your hands and what you’re handling, as well as from task to task. Ambi-dex® is available in different polymer technologies to meet the needs of various applications within the food industry. Latex gloves offer superior flexibility and tactile sensitivity. Nitrile gloves have excellent flexibility and are the preferred substitution for Latex if workers experience intolerance to that technology. Vinyl gloves provide a cost effective alternative to both Latex and Nitrile gloves.Polyethylene offers the most economical choice, and is used mainly in food preparation.


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The White Glove Treatment

The White Glove Treatment

White gloves add a touch of class to any service, whether it is at a hotel, restaurant or catered event. For over 30 years, PIP has been the leader of white gloves for dress applications. Cabaret™ gloves are constructed in a full fashion pattern with fourchettes and set in thumbs for a tailored fit, providing comfort in mulitple applications.


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Disposable Clothing

Disposable Clothing

Food service demands a high degree of cleanliness. PIP offers an extensive and economical line of specialty aprons, hair, and beard protectors as well as disposable sleeves that offer superior barrier qualities while being comfortable to wear on the job.


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ARM PROTECTION

ARM PROTECTION

Protective sleeves are often used in meat and fish processing. Kut-Gard™ protective sleeves, manufactured in the U.S., provide ANSI 5 cut protection to help protect against potential cut and slash injuries. Dyneema® and Pritex™ sleeves also provide cut and abrasion protection while delivering a cooler, more comfortable experience.


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Bouton® Optical

Eye Protection for the Food Industry

Anti-Reflective - Daily work in the food processing industry often means a schedule of repetitive tasks in a bright, indoor environment, which can lead to eye fatigue. The addition of Anti-Reflective coating reduces reflection and glare from bright light, for improved lens clarity. Foam-lined styles offer an additional seal of protection for workers in refrigerated areas, to keep out cold air that dries out eyes. Anti-Fog coating eliminates the condensation of moisture on lenses that causes fogging, so that workers lenses and vision stay clear. In meat and fish plants, workers that handle the product require splash protection. The Stone™ goggle features an additional ANSI rated polycarbonate visor that can be attached and removed in seconds, providing a face shield to give even more protective coverage from splash hazards.


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Metal Detectable Ear Plugs

Metal Detectable Ear Plugs

The daily noise exposure of a food processing facility can cause damage to the ears over time. It is important to protect workers from this injury, but there is also the risk of contamination to consider. While ear plugs are a cost effective and hygenic solution, it is very possible that they can fall off of a worker and into a production area. PIP's hearing line offers a solution with metal detectable ear plugs. Their bright blue color makes them easy to spot in production areas, and if they fall beyond being visible, they can still be detected by their metal insert. They are available in a single-use polyurethane foam, with our "X" Emboss at the end to reduce pressure at the opening of the ear canal, or a multiple use TPR with a combination of sealing flanges and discs for best wearing comfort and attenuation. Both styles feature a cord with the same bright blue color to make them more practical to wear and keep track of during the work day.


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"Thirty years ago, my partner, Wellson Tao and I set out to build a company focused on providing workers personal protective products that provided value and met the highest performance standards. Choosing a name for our company was the easy part. Protective Industrial Products (PIP)"

- Joe Milot, President

Protective Industrial Products Inc.